If you go back 12 months, Robbie Mason and his Soham side were in a very different position to where they are now.

Having taken over from Robbie Nightingale after he moved to Cambridge City mid-season, his team were 85 minutes into the last game of the season against Maldon & Tiptree, staring down the barrel of relegation before two goals in the final five minutes saved them from the drop.

This time around they were firmly in mid-table in the Isthmian League Division One North and, despite losing their final game to Heybridge Swifts, who secured a play-off spot, it was a far more comfortable afternoon for Mason.

It’s been another season of learning for the manager, however, who, with the help of his assistant Erkan Okay, believes he has improved.

“I remember last year when I took over and we were 14 games without a win and I just remember thinking ‘all we need is one win and we’ll get going’ and we did,” he said.

“Last year was probably the best moment I’ve had in football. On 85 minutes we were relegated, then to win 4-3, it was just such a brilliant day.

“This time around was also really good, but for a different reason. It was nice to be in that position where we could relax and just push on to get as high as we can.

“I think this season has been good for me. Erks has helped massively. I’ve never really had that much confidence in terms of coaching, but Erks is really good, he obviously played at a higher level than me too so he brings that experience.

“I’m more of a overseer, a motivator. Maybe it’s a bit of a good cop, bad cop situation.”

It hasn’t exactly been the easiest foray into management for Mason. Several of the first team left when he first joined while he couldn’t get a settled squad together in his first full season in charge until around Christmas.

And while “two or three” additions may be needed over the summer, he said the biggest challenge now is retaining his squad going into next season.

“At the beginning of the year we had to rebuild. Six or seven left and we had a few coming in and we didn’t really have a settled squad until about December,” he said.

“I think we can kick off next season and move forward if we can keep hold of players.

“We’ll never stop anyone going higher, but it’s a case of people not taking a sideways step for an extra fiver or a step down for an extra tenner.

“We’ll probably bring in two or three, but it can be difficult. We have some coming from London, but because of where we are geographically, with the teams around us, it can be hard.”

As well as keeping hold of his player, he said it was important for them to realise their own ability.

“We just want to keep this squad together for the start of next year,” he said.

“Our away form has been very good, after the last eight [away] games we would have been second in the form table.

“I think sometimes they have to believe how good they actually are. “Take Heybridge as an example, they just seemed to have an aura about them, and there was more than 400 people there and I just said to them go out and spoil the party.

“I wish I was still playing and that’s what I would want to do, and I think that’s transferred into my management style.”